Paul Ince is set to hold talks with Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren to sort out his future after Christmas.

Reports earlier this week suggested that the 33-year-old midfielder was ready to end his career in Italy as he did not expect to be offered a new contract at the Riverside Stadium once his current deal runs out at the end of the season.

Ince's agent, Steve Kutner, claimed the former Inter Milan star was looking to sign a pre-contract agreement with a top Italian club once he was in the final six months of his current deal in the new year. But, speaking in an interview with the Boro programme for tomorrow's Premiership clash with Southampton, Ince insists he will wait until the talks with McClaren before making any decision.

"I have repeatedly said that I love playing for and captaining this football club," he said.

"We have a brilliant set of supporters and the squad is a great bunch of lads.

"There will be no decision made until I sit down with Steve McClaren.

"At the moment I am just concentrating on playing football for Boro and I'm not thinking about anything else. When the time is right, I will sit down with the gaffer and we will make the decision, not other people who call themselves experts."

McClaren, meanwhile, maintains the former England international remains very much a part of his plans as he looks to move the club up the Premiership table after a poor start to the new campaign.

He told the club's official website: "I spoke to Paul yesterday and he's 100pc committed to the club and we're totally committed to him."